Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8516, Jonathan French, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
New York
French, Jonathan
S. 8516
Carded
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for contents]
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25,915
Chic
Jonathan French Residing in the State of Ohio was a Captain in the Company commanded by Captain Wells of the Regt commanded in the Ohio Vol
for service — $ 240.00 20.00 $ 260.00
Enscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 250 Dollars per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 31 st day of Jan y and sent to Mrs. A. H. Carter, Newark, Ohio
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 — 550.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4th Nov '34 130.00 $ 680.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by J. D. Hinger Clerk Book E — Vol. 8 — Page 5
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the act of the 6 April 1838 from 4 March to 17 May 1838 the day of his death. a gent Notified 17 April 1840
Sit New H. Waldo Aug t 21/51

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
April 1 st , 1848.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," The children of Jonathan French, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Ohio Agency, at the rate of Two hundred & Sixty Dollars and  Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, have been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March to the 17 th May 1838, the day of his death.
Respectfully, yours,
Wilson S. Parrish Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

L. French
Jonathan French
20/108

The State of Ohio Licking County Gs.
On this 30 th day of October A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court - before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Licking and State of Ohio aforesaid Jonathan French resident of Lima Township in said County aged eighty one years on the 22 nd day of September last was born in the year 1751 State of New Hampshire Township of Dunstable - had his age set down in a small book, together with the ages of his children - but that it is lost or destroyed, he does not know where it is. Who being first duly sworn doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States as a Volunteer on the 21 st day of May 1775 - at Cambridge in the State of New York in a Volunteer Company for the purpose of going against the enemy & elected for Officers Capt. Jas. Wells 1 st Lieut. Edmundson & Ensign John McElroy & marched up the North River to fort Edward & from thence to fort George crossed the Lake to Ticonderoga thence down to the Isle of No. 10 within seven miles of St. Johns & from thence to Crown Point & from thence home again in about five weeks Two weeks after his return home he reenlisted in Capt. Joseph M c Cracken Company of the 2 nd Battalion New York troops (furnished his own Gun) for the term of six months was promised clothing & wages but rec d . neither marched up the North River to fort Edward & from thence to White Hall (then called Scarsborough) thence to Ticonderoga - Crown Point - thence to a place then called the Isle of No. 10 in Canada there General Montgomery took the command of the troops remained there for some time - when the the drums beat up for volunteers to go against St. Johns About 1200 among whom was Deponent volunteered for and went landed at the upper breast work had some skirmishing - & returned next morning to the Isle of No. 10 lay there about a fortnight & then went against St. Johns Laprairie Montreal & Quebec - Deponent states however that he was taken sick & did not himself go farther than St. Johns that he remained at the Hospital at the at fort George about 6 or 7 weeks - when his health was sufficiently restored he rec d . a furlough for fifteen days to go home for fifteen days he was out in this Campaign for months lacking fifteen days

Deponent states that about the beginning of the war he signed pledging his life & fortune & in the defense of his country he was also a Member his name as a Member of the Association proper as a Member of a company of Minute Men during the war always holding himself in readiness to march against the enemy at a minutes warning in which capacity he performed various services entirely too tedious to enumerate a great portion of which from his extreme age & infirmity he is not able to give a satisfactory relation Deponent states that some time in the year 1778 he thinks (being a Member of Captain George Gillmore's Company of Col: Van Vloten Regt. of the Militia) he rec d a Commission as 1 st Lieutenant signed by George Clinton Governor of New York in which capacity he served for about one year and a half when Captain Gillmore died at Small Pose. Deponent states that he then rec d a Captain's Commission signed by the same Governor which Commission he held during the war said Commission he has not now in his possession whether he is he able to procure them or not he is unable to say - He sent them on together with a Certificate signed by (David French Certifying in relation to his services) to the Hon. W m Stanton Rep n in Congress for the purpose of getting said Stanton to procure him a Pension he has not been able to see Mr. Stanton is in hopes that he still has the papers in his possession Deponent states that when he held the Commission as Captain he was sent on to Schenectady at the head of a Company against the enemy and performed various other services under his Commission was sent out frequently against the Forces took thirteen Prisoners on one occasion who were rendered prisoner in a Log House in Cambridge Township recruiting for the purpose of joining Burgoyne at Saratoga there there were twelve of us that surrounded the House & took them was  stationed Stationed at a Pick Fort in Palmerstown for some time as a guard &c He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Role of any Agency in any State - he states further that for the last two years past he has been entirely blind & for three or four years previous thereto his eye sight had become so much impaired that he was scarcely able to see to walk about that he is now entirely dependent upon the his son for support who is not

in circumstances to enable to do so without inconvenience having himself a large family to support. —
from and subscribed in open Court. Witness Jonathan his French mark A. H. Coffee Clerk
We John M. French and Rensselaer W. French (Grand sons of said Jonathan French) residing in Lima Township in said County do Certify that we are well acquainted with the said Jonathan French who has signed sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be eighty one years of age, and that he is reported and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and served as he states, and we concur in that opinion John M. French Rensselaer W. French
known to and subscribed in open Court A. H. Coffee Clerk
And the court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant [after investigating the matter and submitting the question prescribed by the War Department] was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. — They further state that the above named John M. French and Rensselaer W. French who have subscribed the above certifi- cates are residents of said county, and are persons of credibility [no Calypsonian being the vicinity]
I Rensselaer W. Coffee Clerk of said court do certify that the foregoing are the original proceedings in the matter of the applic- ation of Jonathan French for a pension. In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand and seal of said county this 5 th day of Dec 1832 A. H. Coffee Clerk

20. 1/18.
Jonathan French. Ohio
Admitted
1 year to Mo. Lieut 6 Mo private
1834 11-5-40 H. H. Baker Newark Licking County Ohio

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
30 th Jany 1884
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjuncted notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Jonathan French
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     May 1775 1 12 priv Col. Wells 87 years   5 15 " " Lt Cracker Cambridge   1778 Cap. Gifmore N. York   1. 11. lieut Col Van Cort  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of } On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) , with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers :
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? To an Officer. { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:—For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____. For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

November 15, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/MCS Jonathan French, S.8516
Mrs. W. S. Van Fossen Columbus Ohio
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of November 11, 1935, requesting the Revolutionary War record of Jonathan French of Ohio.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S8516, based upon the Revolutionary War service of Jonathan French.
He was born September 22, 1751, in Dunstable Township, New Hampshire. The names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Cambridge, Washington County, New York, he served with the New York troops as follows: from May 21, 1775, six weeks as private in Captain James Wells' company; from about July 20, 1775, at various times amounting to five and one half months in all as private in Captain Joseph McCracken's company; and was at the siege of St. Johns, Canada; on July 4, 1778, he was commissioned first lieutenant in Captain George Gilmore's company in Colonel Van Woert's regiment in which capacity he served at various times until the close of the Revolution, amounting in all to one and one half years; on October 3, 1786, he was commissioned captain in Lieutenant Colonel John Younglove's regiment of New York militia, no further data given relative to this service.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 30, 1832, at which time he was living in Lima Township, Licking County, Ohio. See Microfilm Archives p. 273
Jonathan French died May 17, 1838, and was survived by children. The name of the only child given was that of a son, John B. French, who was fifty-three years of age in 1833.
His service as capt. during Rev. he contradicted in record deposition. Perhaps he had it confused with service as capt. in 1786.

In 1832 the grandsons of Jonathan French, Rensselaer W. French and John M. French, were living in Lima Township. Reference was made to a David French, relationship not shown. The date of marriage and name of wife of soldier were not given and there are no further data relative to his family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

The State of Ohio Licking County ss
Before me Matthew McLaughlin a Justice of the Peace of said County Personally appeared Jonathan French who being duly sworn depones and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For six weeks in Capt. Wells Company as a private having entered as a volunteer 21 st May 1775 - was mustered out in the service five and a half months under Capt. Joseph M c Cracken having enlisted under him as a private about the 20 th July 1775. Deponent states that at the commencement of the war he signed the Association paper as a member (amongst others) pledging his life fortune &c in the defence of his Country and the Cause of Freedom to march against the Enemy at a Moments Warning - that he did accordingly serve his Country in such Capacity and performed various services & performed as he conceives very important services in watching the Movements of the Forces and turning out by order of his officers in case of alarms marching forth and backwards from White Hall (or Scarsborough) &c &c that he is satisfied that thereby from the time of his return from his six months tour under Capt. M c Cracken say 1 st Feby 1776. up to the 4 th of July 1778 he was engaged at least half of his time in performing various services in the line of his duty as a soldier - That on the 4 th of July 1778 he rec d a Commission as Lieut as will be seen by his Commission hereto attached and that he served under said Commission until the close of the war, that he performed various services under said Commission the particulars of which from his loss of memory

he is unable to state except in general terms that he was stationed some times at Forts & some times at other places marching from place to place agreeable to orders and his duty called him some times in pursuit of the Tories and sometimes acting in concert with the Army against the Common Enemy - that he believes that he was engaged in actual service at the least one year and a half while acting under his commission. Deponent states that he does not by any means wish to represent his services to be more than they actually have been that he has always borne his services in mind since the wars of the revolution & that he considered that half of his time at least was devoted to the service of his country during the Revolutionary war. Deponent further states that he does not know of any person by whom he can actually prove his services, that he now lives in Licking County Ohio - that his old companions in arms if any are living are far from him in his native state (New York) he thinks probably there may be some person by whom he can prove his services, yet living in his old neighborhood  but he will endeavor to have it possible to ascertain . Deponent states that he does not know of a Clergyman who can certify for him having he deponent being but a stranger in this part of the country & having lived principally in a retired section of the country. Deponent states that all the documentary evidences of his services - are hereto attached from his commission as Captain it appears he was mistaken in the statements made in his original declaration in regard to the services or the time of performing the services under it. & further deponent saith not.
Sworn & subscribed before me this 21 st day of August AD 1833 Jonathan his  mark M c Call, Baffin S. Pease

The State of Ohio Licking County ss.
Before the subscriber a Justice of the peace of said County personally appeared John B French (53 years of age) who being duly sworn depones and saith that he has frequently heard his father Jonathan French recount over the services performed in the Revolution by him - that he is acquainted fully with what is stated in the preceding deposition that the same corresponds with the statements he has always heard his father make and that he has every reason to believe that the statements therein contained are correct & that he served as he states - Deponent states that the said Jonathan French has (as long as he deponent can recollect) been a member in regular communion in the church called the Seceders. Jonathan Deponent Smith, not.
John B French
M, M, Raffle & Pease
The State of Ohio Licking County ss.
I Amos, ss, Raffle Clerk of the Court of common pleas of the county do hereby certify that M M Raffle Esq. above named and before whom the foregoing declaration was made now is and was at the time thereof an acting justice of the peace for said County duly appointed and qualified to whose official doings full faith and credit are due in all courts of record and elsewhere. And that the sign- atures are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said County this 21 day August A.D. 1833 ss Raffle Clk

House of Representatives Aug 16 th 1850
Col J L Edwards
Dear Sir
Will you have the kindness to examine the within letter with as little delay as possible and report to me in order to enable me to answer the communication which you will please return I am Yours with respect
Hon J L Edwards
Hiram Walbridge

This may certify all whom it may concern that the Bap Capt. Jonathan French has resided in the Town of Cambridge and County of Washington in the Neighbourhood of us the Subscribers, and we have found him strictly honest in his Dealings, a warm advocate for, and a real supporter of the Federal Constitution, has ever appeared forward in settling and cheerful in supporting the Gospel, and has is esteemed for his alacrity in promoting civil & religious Institutions.
Cambridge 4 th Jany 1802.
Edmund Wells Esq r
Edmund Wells Just- (Justice of Peace)
Daniel Wells Supervisor
Wendell Phelps of the County
James Irvine Justice of the Peace
12 24 6 12 23.44 64

THE PEOPLE of the State of NEW-YORK, BY THE GRACE of GOD, FREE AND INDEPENDENT;
To Jonathan French Esquire, Greeting:
W E reposing especial Trust and Confidence, as well in your Patriotism, Conduct and Loyalty, as in your Valour and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service; HAVE appointed and constituted, and by these Presents, DO appoint and constitute you the said Jonathan French Captain of a Company in the Regiment of Militia in the County of Albany whereof John Younglove Esquire is Lieutenant Colonel Commandant
YOU are therefore, to take the said Company into your Charge and Care, as Captain thereof, and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their Captain and you are also to observe and follow such Orders and Directions, as you shall from Time to Time receive from our General and Commander in Chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you; and for so doing, this shall be Your Commission, for and during our good Pleasure, to be signified by our Council of Appointment. IN TESTIMONY whereof, We have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto affixed. WITNESS our Trusty and Well-beloved GEORGE CLINTON, Esquire, our Governor of our State of New-York, General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at our City of New-York, the Third — Day of October in the Year of our LORD, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty six and in the Seventh Year of our INDEPENDENCE.
Passed the Secretary's Office,
5 June 1787
Robert Livingston SECRETARY
Geo. Clinton

The People of the State of New York by the Grace of God, FREE and INDEPENDENT. To Jonathan Church Gent m Greeting. WE reposing especial Trust and Confidence, as well in your Patriotism, Con- -duct and Loyalty, as in your Valour and Readiness to do us good and faithful Service, Have Appointed and constituted, and by these Presents DO Appoint and Constitute you the Second Lieutenant in the First Regiment of Captain George Janssen's Infantry in the City of Albany , in the Regiment which our  General  John  De  Witt  Clinton You are therefore, to take the said Company into your charge and care as First Lieutenant thereof, and duly to exercise the Officers and Soldiers of that Company in Arms, who are hereby commanded to obey you as their First Lieutenant and you are also to Observe and follow such Orders and Directions, as you shall from time to time, receive from our General and Commander in chief of the Militia of our said State, or any other your Superior Officer, Accor- -ding to the Rules and discipline of War in pursuance of the Trust reposed in you; and for so doing, this shall be YOUR Commission, for and during our good pleasure, to be Signified by our Council of appointments. In Testimony whereof, we have caused our Seal for Military Commissions to be hereunto Affixed. Witness our Trusty and well beloved George Clinton Esquire our Governor of our State of New-York, General and Commander in chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the same, by and with the Advice and Consent of our said Council of Appointment, at Albany the Twelfth day of April in the seventh year of our Independence, and in the year of our LORDS one Thousand seven Hundred and seventy Eight. Passed the Secretarys Office, July 4 th 1781 By His Excellency's Command. C. Brant Secretary.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Jonathan French a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
S. 8,516
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 21, 1775 6 mos. Private James Wells N.Y.   July 22, 1775 5 1/2 mos. " Joseph McCracken   July 4, 1778 1 1/2 yrs. Lieut. George Gilmore Gen Woost   Captain vice Gilmore, decd.   Oct. 3, 1786 — Capt in St. John's Younglove's Regt of N.Y. Militia  
Battles engaged in, At siege of St. John's Canada. Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cambridge, Washington Co., N.Y. Date of application for pension, Oct. 30, 1832. His claim was allowed. Residence at date of application, Lima Township, Licking Co., Ohio. Age at date of application, born Sept. 22, 1751 at Dunstable, N.H.
Remarks: The date of his marriage & name of wife are not stated. His son John B. French was 53 yrs. of age in 1833. Grandsons Remsen W. French & John M. French residents of Lima Twp. in 1832. Their ages & parentage not stated. Soldier died May 17, 1838 leaving no further family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
 Jonathan French, names not stated 

COLUMBUS CHAPTER
COLUMBUS, OHIO
November 11, 1935
Veterans' Administration, War Dept. Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Will you please send me any data you have in your records on the Rev. service of Jonathan French of Ohio?
It would be a great favor if you would send any data you may have at your earliest convenience as this grave is to be marked on Nov. 17, and we would like to use the official records in the service.
Yours truly,
Katherine N. Van Fossen
(Mrs. W.S.)
Chrm. of Historic Spots Com.
Rec. in Reg. 5/18/35 War Dept. Nov. 15/35

Rev Sec
Yerington, Colo.,
Nov 27, 1922
The Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly give me the pension record of Lieut Jonathan French of Cambridge, N.Y., who was born in Dunstable, N.H. in 1751, died about 1838 in Ohio.
He enlisted in Cambridge N.Y. in 1775 in the 16th N.Y. militia, was a Lieut and later commissioned Captain
Very sincerely
(Miss) Jennie M Patten

FEB 2 - 1920 DATE RECEIVED
514 So. Winchester Ave. Chicago, Ills. Jan 30, 1920.
Commissioner of Pensions, Rev. War. Sec. Auditor of the Interior Dept. U.S. Treasury Dept. Washington D. C.
Dear Sir,-
Would it be possible for me to obtain the full record so far as it may be on file,,of Jonathan French, a soldier in the Revolution, whose pension certificate No. 25916 was issued Jan. 31, 1834, under Act of June 7, 1832.
I understand his record is under File No. 8516, Rev. War.
I would like to be informed as to where he was born, date of birth, the War record, etc. and every detail which the Department may have on file relating to him.
Is there any record of the name of his Father?
Is there a record of the names and birth-dates of his children?
Also, is there any record of his brother, David French, S. 13086 sent who was a member of the same Regt. ie. the 16th N.Y. The same information is desired with regard to David French.
Jonathan French married the daughter of Lieut. Col. John Blair, also of the 16th N.Y. (Militia.) Is there any record relating to him?
If there are any conditions necessary for me to obtain this information will you kindly inform me. The facts relating to these men will be of great interest to a large number of their descendants.
Hoping to be favored with a reply, I am
very truly yours,-
Albert C. French 514 So. Winchester Ave. Chicago Ills.

514 So. Winchester Ave., Chicago, Feb. 4, 1920.
Commissioner of Pensions,  Rev. War Sec.
Dear Sir,-
The enclosed letter of inquiry has been returned to the undersigned with the instruction that the inquiries therein be referred to your Department for reply.
Will you kindly note the inquiries, and so far as you may be able favor us by supplying the information desired.
Very truly yours,-
Albert C. French 514 So. Winchester Ave., Chicago Ills

My dear Sir. Dear Could you give me any dates concerning Jonathan French's marriage, & the birth number of his children?
Jonathan French was born 1748 at Chester, N.H. He was listed as a Quint- in a company of the 16 th Regi-

- went N. Y. Militia to the Revolutionary War. He became Captain of his Company before the close of the Revolution, yet on your Pension Roll he was listed as drawing a Sergeant's pension pay. He married Jenny Blair, daughter of Col. John Blair of the 16 th N. Y. Regiment of Militia. His 3 sons were John Blair French Benavide & Clement. I want Jonathan Francis' marriage date, & the dates of his children's birth if you have it - Can you tell me any thing of Lt. Col. John Blair? Amputee.

from the "Pension Roll" will be appreci- ated.
Very truly yours, (Mrs) Agnes Carpenter. Regent, "Natchez Chapter" D.A.R.
Natchez Miss. Oct. 13-16.
Carpenter 16

My dear Mr. Byington,
Many thanks for sending data on the Revolutionary record of Capt. Jonathan French. I have the pedigree, without any dates-- so wrote for his service, to the Bureau of Pensions. Jonathan French married Jennie Blair, daughter of Col. John Blair of the 16th. Regiment of New York Militia-- he was Lieut.-Col. Blair. Am sorry I couldn't get any data concerning Col. Blair--but maybe he was so well off he didn't apply for pension, or died before the War ended. This Jonathan French served his first two months or 6 weeks without coat or blanket, to his name. I know who his children were, John Blair, Beveridge, and Clement French-- so thankyou again for giving the other address of the Auditor of Interior, Treasury Deptmt.
Very sincerely yours,
Agnes Z. Carpenter,
Regent, "Natchez Chapter" D.A.R., Natchez, Mississip.
Nov. 10-'16.
( Excuse the typewriter-- need a new one sa day.)

1916 Nov. 7. Miss Agnes Carpenter history of claim. 1920 Feb. 18. Heir. to Albert L. French 1922, Dec. 26 " " Miss Jennie M. and Patten — En. 1935 Nov. 19. Heir. to Mrs. H. Van Fossen. heir
Rev Ivan
8516
INVALID.
File No. 8516
★ John French
Miss Bessie M.
Act: June 1 th 1932
Index: — Vol. 102 , Page 132
[Arrangement of 1870.]
★ Jonathan French. Record corrected. Oct. 11/04. B.